In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized (subject to certain rules and regulations).

The Garden
5380 Eisenhower Ave
Alexandria, Virginia, 22304
United States

Alexandra Wong

Student

Alexandra Wong is an undergraduate student at Johns Hopkins University where she studies public health. Her research focuses on exploring the intersection of public health and neuroscience to inform hearing healthcare policies through joint projects in the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and the Bloomberg School of Public Health. She is also a fierce disability advocate who advocates for universal digital accessibility and disability inclusion in educational spaces at the state and federal level. Her work has been recognized by the NIH/NINDS, Cochlear Americas, and the Association for People with Disabilities. Her story of growing up with hearing loss has been featured in international news coverage from the Washington Post, the Johns Hopkins HUB, and the 1 Million Women in STEM campaign. In her free time, she can be found watching figure skating or scouting out local Baltimore bakeries for cream puffs.

Anya Berlova

PhD Student, Interdisciplinary Researcher & Entrepreneur

Anya Berlova is a PhD student at Yale University, international speaker, entrepreneur, children's book illustrator, and published researcher in linguistics and behavior. Anya leads projects across art, animation, film, and fashion, and has given talks in the US, UK, and Japan.

Julie Jakopic

Organizational Coach and Activist

Julie is leadership evangelist helping multi-talented leaders build resilient organizations and lives they love while delivering results and changing the world for good, even and maybe especially, in times of crisis.

Karen Mooney Lasher

Founder and Front Line Firefly

Karen Lasher is a professional with hospitality woven into the fabric of her being. During her 35yr career, she has experienced the hospitality industry at every level from front line to ownership and everywhere in between. With an open heart, she embodies hospitality and teaches others to do the same. Through her company, Illuminated Hospitality, she assists organizations to harness the true power of hospitality, transforming the business, every member of the team and the community through the power of Front Line Shine. She is also the founder of The Firefly Life - a social movement with a mission to build a bridge of light to span the divide in our society, lighting the way to peace and harmony. She is also known to many as The Dancing Lady, bringing joy and light to the day. When she isn’t dancing she can be found soaking up the gifts of nature, leading experiences and adventures, cooking, writing, and telling stories.

Krysta Jones

Community Leader

Krysta Jones has committed her life to public service, developing leaders and changing lives. In 2021 she helped organize the Leadership Center for Excellence racial equity listening sessions and statewide summit designed to highlight successful programming and strategize about how to achieve racial equity in Virginia. Krysta successfully represented two associations for eight years as a registered lobbyist, advocating for women’s and socio economic status issues, and served as the Director of Outreach for two Members of Congress. Krysta was also recently named a Library of Virginia “Strong Woman in Virginia History”, and has previously been featured in Ebony Magazine as a "Hero Next Door"

Marla M. Dean

Policy Advocate

In 2014, after Marla Dean had just completed her tenure as a Turnaround Principal. Through this experience of turning around a persistently low achieving and dangerous school, she came to understand that the way forward in education transformation is the implementation of a whole child approach with a commitment to high expertise teaching. Later Marla would come to learn that poor quality local, state and federal policy was interfering with children's ability to learn and families' ability to thrive. As a result, Marla became a student, proponent and advocate of two-generation policies and approaches.

Peter Warmka

Author & Human Hacker

Peter Warmka is a former Senior Intelligence Officer with the CIA having over 20 years of experience in breaching the security of target organizations overseas. He is an Adjunct Professor at Webster University's Masters in Cybersecurity Program, Founder of Orlando based firm Counterintelligence Institute, LLC and author of the non-fiction book "Confessions of a CIA Spy - The Art of Human Hacking."

Sara Lavan & Kylie Murray

Co-Artistic Directors

Sara Lavan and Kylie Murray are Co-Artistic Directors of Local Motion Project, a non-profit dance organization in Alexandria, Virginia. Together they create programming for youth and adults in the studio, and in outreach in the community. They direct the adult ensemble, LMP Collective, and two youth performing ensembles. They partner with Smithsonian, are teaching artists with Kennedy Center and provide professional development for educators nationally. Most recently their dance film, "Not an Exit" was selected for the Alexandria Film Festival. For more information: www.localmotionproject.org

Vinu Ilakkuvan, DrPH

Public Health Practitioner, Advocate, and Professor

Vinu Ilakkuvan, DrPH, MSPH is passionate about transforming the way we think about addressing health - impacting populations instead of a single person, changing systems instead of individuals, and pursuing prevention instead of treatment. Vinu is informed by her systems-focused training as an engineer and public health professional and is inspired by her experience communicating with others as a journalist and a dancer. She works with communities and multi-sector groups to help solve today's most pressing public health problems. She is the Founder of PoP Health (pophealthllc.com), a consulting practice based in Fairfax, VA, and a Professorial Lecturer at George Washington University's Milken Institute School of Public Health.

Will Samson

Change Coach and Entrepreneur

Will Samson is a professional change agent who is passionate about guiding businesses and executives through the necessary shifts to realize their full potential. He specializes in helping leaders pivot from outdated thinking and old habits to new ways of doing things that will allow them to grow as individuals and as leaders.